Saturday, 8 September 2012

The Wheel of Time So Far: Part 13 - Winter's Heart

Spoilers for those who are unfamiliar with the series. Note that this
summary is designed to help people who have already read the books get
back up to speed before the release of the final volume in January.
First-timers are advised to read the books directly, as in some cases
these summaries may spoil things that are not revealed in the books
until much later.

Perrin Aybara leads his forces through the snow-strewn forests of Altara.

Follow the break for the summary:

Winter's Heart

In
the cellars of the White Tower
in Tar Valon, Saerin, Yukiri, Doesine, Seaine and Pevara are using an Aes Sedai ter’angreal
built for discipline, the Chair of Remorse, to pump Talene for information about
the Black Ajah. Talene admits to being Black but also claims that Elaida is as
well. This hasn’t been admitted to her, but it is the only explanation she can
think of for how much information the Black Ajah has suddenly gained access to,
virtually everything that comes into the White
Tower now goes before the Supreme
Council of the Black Ajah. Saerin, who has taken command of the
investigation, refuses to believe the theory until hard proof is produced,
since it was Elaida herself who set Pevara and Seaine on this task. They make
Talene re-swear the Three Oaths on the Oath Rod and also swear oaths of
allegiance to them. They then set about ‘persuading’ the other undercover rebel
Aes Sedai into joining their faction as well. They will give them enough
numbers to seek out all the members of the Black Ajah in the Tower.

In
Caemlyn Elayne is feeling under great pressure. Though Dyelin is backing her
claim to the Lion Throne, many of the noble houses formerly supporting her are
now switching allegiances to other Houses. Luckily, the three most powerful are
currently occupied down on the Murandian border dealing with their new
Murandian allies and with Egwene’s promise to depart soon for Tar Valon (The
Path of Daggers). Dyelin agrees that Andor cannot sustain another
Succession War, not now, but the other Houses are annoyed by Morgase’s
abandonment of the kingdom and Elayne’s lengthy absence. Most flatly do not
believe that Gaebril was Rahvin and lay the blame for all of Andor’s woes at
the feet of House Trakand, which is obviously no longer fit to rule. Elayne
will have an uphill battle to secure her claim. At the moment her writ extends
barely five miles from Caemlyn itself. To secure her position she is hiring
mercenaries and even Hunters for the Horn to fill out her Queen’s Guard (which
Birgitte, now Lady Birgitte Trahelion, is in command of). Dyelin dislikes the
idea of using foreigners to guard the Queen but the proper number of guardsmen
in the city is far too low to adequately defend it from attack. Elayne’s
assessment of the situation is that there are nineteen Houses in Andor large
and powerful enough to sway dozens of the lesser Houses after them. Six have
sworn to Elayne’s three principal challengers, Arymilla Caeren, Naen Sarand and
Elenia Arawn, whilst only two have so far sworn for Elayne. Dyelin plans to
bring as many people as possible to Elayne’s side but Elayne knows, deep down,
that this may still come to civil war. Luckily, Elayne’s supporters have Naen
and Elenia under house arrest in Aringill and she sends orders for them to be
brought to Caemlyn immediately.

Two
Sea Folk Windfinders enter Elayne’s chambers, angry that Elayne is not
fulfilling the bargain she and Nynaeve made with the Mistress of the Ships (A
Crown of Swords). In return for the Windfinders’ help in finding the Bowl
of Winds the Aes Sedai would release all Athan’an Miere Aes Sedai from the
Three Oaths and return them to the Sea Folk Home Isles, return the Bowl of
Winds to the Atha’an Miere (which has already been done, its purpose fulfilled)
and teach Windfinders in the ways of Aes Sedai channelling. As Elayne points
out there are only five Aes Sedai in Caemlyn under (or equal to) her
authority: herself, Nynaeve, Vandene, Merilille, Careane and Sareitha.
Merilille is being run ragged teaching the Windfinders what they want to know.
Elayne is far too busy to deal with such matters and Vandene is still greiving
for Adeleas, as well as teaching two of the Kin who have been permitted to
become Aes Sedai novices again. Elayne agrees to let Sareitha, Careane and even
Nynaeve teach them, though Nynaeve is ‘busy’ with her new husband much of the
time. Elayne would rather have the Sea Folk out of her hair altogether and
suggests that they join the massive Sea Folk armada which has been gathering in
Tear, both at Rand’s order and also to investigate the fate of the dozens of
Sea Folk ships lost when the Seanchan conquered Ebou Dar. The Windfinders
decline the invitation.

Mazrim
Taim arrives and Elayne announces her annoyance that the Asha’man have walled
in their Black Tower
and four square miles of surrounding territory. Taim is unrepentant but agrees
to let supervised visits to the Tower take place. Elayne is suddenly summoned
by the Aiel on a matter that cannot wait. To prove that she is not a puppet of Rand
al’Thor’s Elayne has ordered all Saldaeans, Aiel and members of the Legion of
the Dragon to withdraw beyond the city walls. However, she has to go to the
Aiel to carry out an important ceremony: the adopting of herself and Aviendha as
first-sisters. This actually turns out to be a ceremony involving the One
Power, bonding herself and Aviendha together.

In
the village springing up around the Black Tower Toveine Gazal awakens, still
enraged at her treatment by Logain (The Path of Daggers). She
answers a summons to Logain’s house, but along the way sees Elayne and a group
of Andorans visiting the Tower under Mazrim Taim’s direction. She reaches
Logain’s house, but much to her shock sees that Gabrelle, Logain’s other bonded
Aes Sedai, has started sleeping with the man! Gabrelle claims it is to gain
information on him but Toveine is sickened by the idea. She and Gabrelle
observe that there are two distinct factions gathering pace in the town, one
following Logain and the other following Taim. Logain’s followers bring him
news, some of it interesting to the Aes Sedai. Rand has
apparently ordered some Asha’man to go undercover into the Two Rivers and
locate men there who can channel. Two boys have so far been found with the
ability, but since both are younger than 14 there is some dispute over the
moral right of teaching them. Logain and the other Asha’man are shocked to
learn that Taim has placed the names of seven renegade Asha’man on the
noticeboard: Gedwyn, Torval, Rochaid, Kisman, Flinn, Hopwill and Narishma.
Gabrelle and Toveine are banished inside the house whilst Logain mulls the
matter over. Inside Gabrelle tells Toveine that Logain found their written orders
from Elaida ordering them to still every male channeller they encountered in
direct violation of Tower law, but burned the papers rather than expose them.
The two Aes Sedai decide to contact the other forty-nine Aes Sedai being held
prisoner and find some way around the bond and the oaths in order to escape.

Rand
and Min have Travelled back to Cairhien
City in secret and taken up
residence in Rand’s academy. Lord Taborwin arrives with
updated news reports. Repairs have commenced on the Sun
Palace’s wing which was
half-destroyed by Dashiva, Gedwyn and Rochaid in their attack on him. Rumours
are flying through the streets: Aes Sedai attacked and killed the Dragon
Reborn; the Dragon Reborn has been captured and taken before the Amyrlin Seat
to swear fealty to her; the Asha’man have gone mad and started laying waste to
the world; Rand himself has gone mad. Rand prepares
three documents for Taborwin to deliver. The first makes Dobraine Taborwin
himself Steward of Cairhien. The second makes Darlin Sisnera Steward of Tear.
The third makes Gregorin den Lushenos Steward of Illian. Whatever else happens,
Cairhien, Tear and Illian must remain loyal to him. He also commands all three
nations to support Elayne Trakand’s claim to the Lion Throne of Andor, even to
the point of offering military support if she asks for it. That done, he and
Min Travel to a hidden campsite about 500
miles north of Andor, not too far from Tar Valon itself.
Here Rand tells Min his plan: he means to cleanse the
male half of the One Power, remove the taint from saidin forever. But
before he can do that he must find and kill Dashiva, Rochaid, Gedwyn and the
others who have turned against him.

In
Abila Perrin leaves his meeting with Masema, incensed at the man’s stupidity
and insanity in not allowing the Asha’man, Aiel Wise Ones or Aes Sedai with
Perrin to create gateways for Travelling straight back to Cairhien from here.
Instead, it looks like they’re going to have to march more than 2,000 miles across the war-torn
southlands to get back to Rand. All such thoughts are
abandoned upon reaching their camp and learning from Berelain that Faile, Bain,
Chiad, Alliandre, ‘Maighdin’ (Morgase) and others have been captured by the
Shaido Aiel. Elyas, Gaul and other scouts immediately set
out to locate them, whilst Berelain warns Perrin about Masema’s secret meetings
with the Seanchan. Balwer has news of two titanic battles in the south: one no
more than 100 miles
west of Abila at Jeramel, between the Seanchan and the unified armies of the
Children of the Light and the Amadician army under King Ailron, rather
unexpectedly (Ailron being the most likely king on the entire subcontinent to
throw his lot in with the Seanchan, just to increase his power beyond that of a
figurehead). The Amadician army was wiped out and Ailron and his court
captured, though the Whitecloaks managed to escape largely intact. The second
battle occurred hundreds of miles further away south and east, somewhere in
Altara. A large Seanchan army was defeated and sent reeling back into Ebou Dar,
but the details are still sketchy at best. Perrin is more concerned about his
wife at the moment. When Masema and his escorts turn up Perrin tells him they
are using the Power to Travel after the Seanchan who took his wife. Masema
agrees surprisingly easily and they set off.

Faile,
Morgase and Alliandre plot their escape, though it won’t be easy given the size
of the Shaido force they are joined to. Sevanna herself comes to size up the
latest captives and makes them her own personal gai’shain, whilst
Thevara orders the three women to spy on Sevanna for her. Faile, Morgase and
Alliandre also meet Galina Casban. Galina agrees to help them escape if they
can retrieve the Oath Rod-like ter’angreal from Thevara’s tent and give
it to her so she may free herself from her oaths. When Faile lets slip her
surname is Aybara, Galina realises who her husband is and threatens to tell
Sevanna if they do not help her. The three women reluctantly agree.

In
Caemlyn Elayne’s stressful life continues and is further complicated when
Vandene tells her that the two former Kinswomen who have become novices have
started thinking about who could have killed Adeleas and Ispan, something they
shouldn’t be considering. Vandene complains about not having enough time to
teach them properly and Nynaeve has a fit when Elayne suggests she help out,
since Nynaeve is now being drilled for information by the Windfinders.
Complicating matters even further, Rand has sent all
thirty-four of the Seanchan damane and sul’dam captured in the Venir
Mountains and on the Altaran plains
to Caemlyn (The Path of Daggers). There was a misreport that the rebel
Aes Sedai and their army was in Andor and he meant for them to take the
Seanchan in hand, but Elayne has been forced to turn the captives over to the
Kin since no-one else has the time to deal with them. Elayne’s plan is for the sul’dam
to be forced to admit they can channel and then send them back to the Seanchan.
Under interrogation they are sure to admit the secret and collapse the entire
foundation the Seanchan Empire is based upon. Remarkably, three of the damane
are saying they are ready to be set free (the damane usually would
rather die than be let off the leash). Two of these are explainable because
they are natives of the West, a Wise Woman from Falme and a noblewoman from
Tanchico, but the other, Alivia, is from the Seanchan home continent and has
been damane for 400 years! Even more stunning, her power far outstrips
that of Nynaeve and even some of the Forsaken! Elayne is very wary about taking
the leash off her, but Lan points out that if she doesn’t trust her, then all
the damane will have to stay leashed forever, no matter their true
allegiance.

Elayne
hears Elaida’s proclamation that only the Tower Aes Sedai may treat with Rand
and anyone who talks to him without Tar Valon permission shall be considered an
enemy of the Tower. Elayne is stunned by Elaida’s arrogance and wonders why she
has made such a stupid move. There are rumours of an army in Murandy aimed at
Andor, but Elayne realises it is the Band of the Red Hand and they are carrying
on their plan to unite Murandy under King Roedran (The Path of Daggers).
Rand’s troops are gathering in Illian to resist a
Seanchan assault but many of his forces are still recovering from the battle
near Ebou Dar. There are also reports of numerous sea battles between Seanchan
warships and Sea Folk vessels, some won, some lost, but all that is confirmed
is the vast number of Sea Folk craft now moored in Tear
Harbour and off the Fingers of the
Dragon. There is another report about the Queen of Kandor and the King of
Shienar going missing as well as Queen Tenobia of Saldaea’s very long
sabbatical in the country. Elayne also receives support from several major
noble Houses of Cairhien offering her ‘assistance’ in securing the Lion Throne
so she can also claim the Sun Throne more quickly. Elayne politely turns them
down, knowing the consequences of letting Cairhienin troops operate on Andoran
soil to her own claim for the throne.

The
Lady Dyelin Taravin arrives with almost bizarre news for Elayne: an army of
Borderlanders has set up camp in Braem Wood, just north of the Andoran border.
According to Dyelin’s scouts there are almost a quarter of a million troops
spread across the countryside, stripping it bare to support themselves.
However, further discussion is curtailed when Elayne suddenly feels drowsy and
realises she has been poisoned. Armed men burst in to kill her, but a guardsman
holds them off long enough for help to arrive. Recovering, Elayne learns she
was poisoned with forkroot (The Fires of Heaven), but will make a full
recovery. Dyelin was injured in the skirmish, but will recover with the help of
Aes Sedai Healing. Doilin Mellar, the guardsman who saved Elayne, is promoted
to Guardsman-Captain as a reward for his service.Elayne and Nynaeve enter Tel’aran’rhiod
to meet with Egwene and update her on the latest news. Egwene reciprocates,
grumbling on how the Hall of the Tower is doing its best to evade her orders.
She does startle Nynaeve by telling her of a powerful novice they have
recruited, Sharina Melloy. Nynaeve recognises the name: Sharina was her and Lan’s
Aes Sedai advisor in the vision she had during the test for Accepted (The
Great Hunt). Nynaeve and Elayne are stunned when Egwene tells them that she
will continue to use the Oath Rod to impose the Three Oaths upon the Aes Sedai,
despite the growing evidence that it is the Three Oaths which causes Aes Sedai
to die at least two to three centuries before other channellers (Aiel Wise Ones,
Sea Folk Windfinders, the Kin and Seanchan sul’dam and damane).
Egwene plans to use the Kin as a ‘retirement’ community. When they reach
advanced age, Aes Sedai will be able to voluntarily remove themselves from the
Three Oaths and join the Kin. Elayne and Nynaeve agree with this idea. Suddenly
the trio discover they are being spied upon by a strange man, who runs off when
he notices them looking at him. The three are puzzled: the man resembled Rand,
and some of the Shienarans in Egwene’s army. This reminds Elayne of the news of
Borderlanders in Braem Wood and she guesses that all of the Borderland rulers
are with that army as well. She guesses they mean either to join Rand
or oppose him, but doesn’t know for sure. She decides to make contact with them
to find out.

The
surviving members of the Black Ajah group that fled Tar Valon a year or more
ago (The Dragon Reborn) have started regrouping in Caemlyn. Chesmal,
Asne, Temaile and Eldrith are lying low, waiting for Moghedien to make contact
again. However, there is dissent in the ranks, particularly over Eldrith’s
foolishness in letting her ‘masking’ slip, allowing her Warder, Kennit, to
almost locate her before they managed to evade him. Asne, meanwhile, has
contacted her four Warders and recruited them to her service, though only one,
Powl, a Darkfriend, knows their true agenda.

Elsewhere
in Caemlyn Shiaine is basking in the glow of her increased status among the
Darkfriends, even to the point of the disgraced Black Ajah member Falion being
forced to serve her by Moridin following her failure in Ebou Dar. Shiaine’s
assoicate, Black Ajah member Marillin Gemalphin, warns Shiaine about becoming
over-confident, but they are joined by Daved Hanlon, who beams with pleasure as
he announces his promotion to Captain of the Queen’s Bodyguard.

Rand
opens a gateway right into a storeroom in the Royal
Palace in Caemlyn and brings Min
with him. He weaves a disguise around him to appear as a common serving man and
gets to see Nynaeve. However, Min takes the first opportunity to take off and
alert Elayne and Aviendha to Rand’s presence. When Rand
confronts Nynaeve and Lan he is surprised that Lan did not follow his own
advice and keep himself out of Nynaeve’s way (The Fires of Heaven). He
is also shocked that Nynaeve and Elayne are still ‘masquerading’ as Aes Sedai,
and flabbergasted when Nynaeve and Lan tell him they are Aes Sedai and
that Egwene is the rebel Amyrlin Seat! Rand guesses that
Mat is with Egwene’s army but ploughs on before they can correct him by
producing the two ter’angreal linked to the super-powerful sa’angreal
in Cairhien and Tremalking. He wants Nynaeve to help him cleanse saidin
of the Dark One’s taint but needs to find the renegade Asha’man who tried to
kill him in Cairhien first (The Path of Daggers). Nynaeve agrees to help
him, but only on the condition that she and Lan go with him. Rand,
very reluctantly, agrees.

Elayne
and Aviendha confront Rand (and Aviendha meets Min for
the first time) and learn that Alanna Mosvani has bonded him (Lord of Chaos).
Neither are amused, but tell Rand they have worked out a
way of bonding him like a Warder but through Min, in effect bonding the
four of them together. Rand is doubtful but agrees to the
procedure. Afterwards Aviendha and Min leave Rand and Elayne alone as they have
not yet spent ‘time’ together. Birgitte, feeling the emotional spin-over from
Elayne, is unhappy with Elayne’s decision, but understands it. The next morning
Elayne is initially happy that their relationship has been resolved, but is
unamused to discover that Rand, Min, Nynaeve and Lan
have disappeared with only a hastily-written note from Rand
left behind to explain what is going on.

At
the Sun Palace
in Cairhien, Cadsuane is vexed by Rand and Min’s
disappearance and displeased when Wavemistress Harine din Togara confronts her
about a Windfinder being held captive in the palace, Shalon. Shalon and a
Cairhienin noblewoman, Lady Ailil Riatin (Toram Riatin’s sister) were found to
have been meeting in secret and been in close proximity to Rand’s
chambers when the Asha’man tried to kill him. Cadsuane is holding both captive
to find out if they are Darkfriends. She tells Harine the matter will be dealt
with and refuses to answer any further demands. After Harine leaves, Verin
Mathwin arrives with what she has learned from the two captives, namely that
they had simply become friends and then lovers during their lonely sojourn in
the palace. The Aes Sedai are puzzled why they would put up with days of
interrogation to hide that, although both are married and impropriety in
marriage is forbidden under both Cairhienin and Sea Folk law. Cadsuane orders them
both released, with ‘tenuous’ promises that their secret will be kept...if it
benefits her to do so. Sorilea then arrives and reports that last Tower Aes
Sedai sisters captured at Dumai’s Wells (Chisaine Nurbaya, Janine Pavlara,
Innina Darenhold and Vayelle Kamsa) have swore fealty to the Dragon Reborn.
That means that all nineteen of the Tower Aes Sedai have now sworn
fealty. Cadsuane is astonished that Red Ajah sisters would swear and is
at a loss to explain why they did, save it might have been more ta’veren
activity. However, she orders them watched closely in case they are Black Ajah.
She remembers almost rooting out the Black Ajah in the Tower only to watch them
vanish like smoke: her bitterest failure, save for failing to find out what
Moiraine Damodred was up to in Kandor twenty-one years ago (New Spring).
A Yellow sister, Corele, arrives with interesting news: Damer Flinn, the Asha’man
who Healed Rand of the injuries sustained from his stabbing by Padan Fain (A
Crown of Swords) has Healed Irgain, one of the Aes Sedai Rand stilled at
Dumai’s Wells. The Aes Sedai are stunned and Cadsuane grants Flinn permission
to try and Heal the other two stilled Aes Sedai, Sashalle and Ronaille as well.
Then another Asha’man, Jahar Narishma, enters with news that Alanna has passed
out.

Cadsuane
and her entourage go to see Alanna, but are intercepted by Lord Dobraine
Taborwin. Dobraine informs Cadsuane that he has released Lord Darlin Sisnera
and Lady Caraline Damodred. Darlin is to be the Lord Dragon’s Steward of Tear
and has gone to fulfil that duty. Caraline volunteered to go with him and
Dobraine agreed that it was a good idea to remove her from the country and any
nobles who might try and use her claim to the Sun Throne. Cadsuane agrees with
his reasoning and proceeds to see Alanna, but none of the Aes Sedai can wake
her up. Cadsuane decides to simply wait until she awakens of her own accord.

Some
of the surviving Forsaken gather at a meeting place near Shayol Ghul:
Demandred, Graendal, Osan’gar and Aran’gar. Demandred is slightly unnerved that
his ‘allies’, Mesaana and Semirhage, were unable to attend this meeting, whilst
Graendal makes the unsettling observation that if al’Thor does cleanse saidin,
then the Dark One will no longer be able to trust Demandred, Aran’gar, Osan’gar
and Moridin. Before a general argument can erupt, Moridin and Cyndane arrive
and Moridin assures them that the Dark One continues to trust their loyalty.
Demandred is disturbed that Moridin has been using the True Power so much, but
keeps his fears to himself. All are startled when Cyndane tells them that al’Thor
has recovered several of the access key ter’angreal linked to the
Choedan Kal (the giant statue sa’angreal in Tremalking and Cairhien).
Moridin tells them that when Rand tries to use them, it
will be as if a great beacon were lit: he and his allies will be using so much of the Power
than the Forsaken can find them and kill them before the task is completed.

The
Seanchan Imperial Flagship Victory of Kidron sails into Ebou Dar,
carrying the Daughter of the Nine Moons, Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag, and her
retinue to the lands conquered by the Hailene. The true Corenne
has now begun, with over 300,000 settlers, artisans and craftsman arriving in
occupied Tarabon and Altara. Tuon feels shamed after ordering one of her damane,
Lidya, beaten after she read Tuon’s future and gave an unfavourable prediction.
As part of her self-punishment, Tuon chooses not to claim her title and rank
upon reaching Ebou Dar, but go among her people there simply as a noblewoman,
not as heir to the Crystal Throne. Among Tuon’s retinue is Ronde Macura, the
Yellow Ajah servant from Mardecin who tried to poison Elayne and Nynaeve with
forkroot (The Fires of Heaven) and now takes great delight in spilling
Aes Sedai secrets to the Seanchan. Going on deck as the ship pulls into the
harbour, Tuon tells her Truthspeaker, Anath, that she must make contact with
the Dragon Reborn and convince him to kneel before the Empress, otherwise all
is lost.

In
Ebou Dar itself Mat Cauthon continues to recover from the wounds sustained when
the Seanchan invaded the city (A Crown of Swords). He has made contact
with Aludra, a member of the Guild of Illuminators whose life he once saved (The
Dragon Reborn) and now living in a menagerie run by one Valan Luca (The
Fires of Heaven), but has failed to convince her to give up the secrets of
the explosive compounds the Guild of Illuminators used. Even the news that the Seanchan
have dissolved the Guild and arrested all Illuminators fails to get her to
change her mind. However, Aludra gives Mat a riddle to solve. If he can solve
it, she will give him the secrets he wants. The riddle is what possible use
could she have for a bellfounder? Mat is at a loss to answer. Mat goes to see
Thom, Beslan and Juilin, who are talking to Luca. Thom reports that Luca will
take them with him when he leaves Ebou Dar, but that won’t but until spring at
the earliest, a month and more away. Mat decides they have to leave sooner and
Beslan is unhappy about helping his mother’s ‘pretty’ escape, but agrees that
they need to leave and return to the Dragon Reborn.

The
rest return to the palace, but Mat decides to lie low before the inevitable
unpleasentness of confronting Queen Tylin Quintara Mitsobar again. He stays at
an inn until nightfall, but is attacked by the gholam as he returns to
the palace. Using his ter’angreal he holds the gholam at bay
until the sound of other people coming makes it run off. However, there is only
one man, one with a hooked nose who has met Mat before (A Crown of Swords).
The old man reveals his name as Noal Charin and accepts a bed for the night at
the Tarasin Palace.

At
the palace several high-ranking Seanchan have also taken up residence,
including the High Lady Suroth Sabelle Meldarath. Mat does his best to avoid
the Seanchan, but still finds it difficult to see Teslyn as damane, or
forget that Nesta din Reas Two Moons, Mistress of the Ships of the Atha’an
Miere, and her Master of Blades both died burning on the stake. When he arrives
at Tylin’s apartments, however, he finds her talking to Suroth, Tuon and Anath.
Something about Tuon annoys Mat and he takes pride that his injuries were
caused by the Seanchan invasion. Tuon is amused and offers to buy him from
Tylin, but is disappointed when he turns out to be a freeman. Over the days
that follow Tuon keeps an eye on Mat, and Tylin consumes every waking hour she
has free of the Seanchan making sure of her claim to him. Tuon sees Mat’s ashandarei
(the spear he got from Rhuidean in The Shadow Rising) and offers him ten
times the price he paid for it, but Mat tells her the price was not in gold and
he cannot accept the price once more, let alone ten.

Mat
goes to the Wandering Woman Inn and rents a room. He starts transferring his
belongings there, one-by-one, a day at a time, from the palace to cover his
escape when the time comes. Setalle Anan asks him to meet another friend of
hers, who turns out to be the Aes Sedai Joline Maza! Joline wants to escape
Ebou Dar for obvious reasons and Mat, reluctantly, agrees to take her with him
when he escapes. A Seanchan Captain of the Green arrives, Egeanin Tamarath
(last seen in The Shadow Rising), along with her so’jhin, who Mat
only later recognises as Bayle Domon, captain of the riverboat Spray (The
Eye of the World). Mat decides that he can’t leave Teslyn behind either and
manages to get a message to her promising to help her escape. Teslyn responds
by telling him there is another newly-captured Aes Sedai damane in the
city, Edesina Azzedin, who should be rescued as well. Mat agrees, but wonders
how the hell he is going to pull it off.

Elsewhere
in Ebou Dar a sul’dam named Bethamin is walking a tightrope. She is one
of the sul’dam known by Suroth and her Voice, Alwhin, to be able to
channel. However, in order to stop this becoming public and destroying the
Seanchan Empire, Suroth has repressed the news. She can’t even kill the sul’dam
since that would bring about a response from the Seekers for the Truth. So, for
now, the sul’dam are allowed to go about free, only forbidden to link
with any damane. At her inn Bethamin is confronted by a Seeker for the
Truth, the same one Egeanin met in Tanchico (The Shadow Rising). He
tells Bethamin to renew her ‘friendship’ with Egeanin and spy on her for him.
He is convinced that Egeanin and her so’jhin, Bayle Domon, were involved
in the High Lord Turak’s death at Falme (The Great Hunt) and means to
seem them punished. Bethamin agrees because she has no choice.

At
the Wandering Woman Egeanin reflects on how fate has brought her and Domon to
this place. Although now of high rank, Egeanin ponders why Suroth left them at Cantorin
Harbour in the Aile Somera for so
many months before summoning her to Ebou Dar, but not for any declared purpose.
Domon again agonises that they should have dropped the male a’dam
Nynaeve and Elayne gave them over the side (The Shadow Rising) but
Egeanin again points out that if the Seekers had not found what they were
looking for, they would all have been killed. As it is, they have their freedom
and some measure of power. Bethamin arrives and tells Egeanin about the Seeker
forcing her to make friends with Egeanin. Egeanin agrees to help her evade the
Seekers’ wrath and begins feeding information to the Seeker that she wants him
to hear. Egeanin also gives permission for Domon to contact Mat. Domon knows
that Mat is an associate of Thom Merrilin, who was useful to them in the
Tanchico incident (The Shadow Rising), and ponders if he is here as
well.

The city-state of Far Madding.

Rand,
Nynaeve, Lan, Min and former damane Alivia have arrived in Far Madding,
an independent city-state nestled in the foothills of the Hills of Kintara,
between Caemlyn, Tear and Illian. Built on an island on a large lake, Far
Madding is protected by three powerful ter’angreal known as the
Guardians. Between them, the ter’angreal generate a field similar to
that of an Ogier stedding, preventing any male or female channeller from
using the One Power within the city limits. Rand has left hints that he will be
here and, sure enough, the bait has been taken when Rand sees Manel Rochaid in
one of the markets. He follows the man into an alleyway, but Rochaid turns on
him. Rand uses his unarmed combat skills (learned from the Aiel) to kill Rochaid
in the space of a few seconds and then turn on Raefar Kisman, who is lying in
wait. Before Rand can kill the second renegade Asha’man, the Far Madding Street
Guards approach and both men flee. Kisman reflects that Taim, Demandred and
Moridin all ordered Rand’s death and ponders on Dashiva’s disappearance, but
suddenly someone stabs him in the arm with a poisoned blade, announcing that
Rand belongs to him. Kisman promptly expires.

At
the Crown of Maredo Inn Rand instructs his companions to pack up and move to
another inn, in case Kisman and Rochaid knew where he was staying. As they
prepare to move out, Rand discovers with a shock that he can draw good pictures
of Kisman, Gedwyn, Dashiva and Torval despite not being able to draw at all.
Stunned, he remembers that Lews Therin could draw very well.

In
Tel’aran’rhiod the being known as Isam prepares to carry out his latest
commission. He opens a gateway into the real world, shifting into Luc as he does
so. He emerges in the bedroom of an inn in Far Madding and kills the two
staying there. Unfortunately, they are not his targets, his nephew Rand and his
lover, Min. Annoyed, Luc reports his failure to his master, one of the
Forsaken, who agrees to let him try again, but not right now. Luc remembers his
previous kills, two Aes Sedai in the Stone of Tear (The Shadow Rising)
and a Grey Man in Tar Valon itself (The Dragon Reborn), and looks
forward to his next successful assignment.

Cadsuane
gathers a group in the stableyards of the Sun Palace in Cairhien: herself,
Verin, Alanna, Kumira, Daigian, Beldeine Nyram, Erian Boroleos, Sarene Nemdahl,
Corele, Merise, Nesune Bihara and Elza Penfel of the Aes Sedai; Eben Hopwil,
Damer Flinn and Jahar Narishma of the Asha’man; and Harine din Togara,
Swordmaster Moad and Shalon of the Sea Folk, plus seven Warders. Alanna has
recovered from her ‘discomfort’ and identified Rand as being located far to the
south-west. It isn’t long before they reason that Rand is in Far Madding. The
group Travels to outside the city and enters, whereupon they head straight for
the Hall of the Counsels, where the ruling council of the city meets. Cadsuane
demands, and receives, a meeting with First Counsel Aleis Barsalla and the
other Counsellors. It rapidly becomes apparent that Cadsuane is not popular in
the city and with Barsalla in particular. Bizarrely, Verin does not give her
real name, calling herself Eadwina. She notes that, according to the Guardians,
a man has just channelled outside the city and Barsalla agrees, but tells the
Aes Sedai that even the Asha’man can enter the city without fear of punishment
or incarceration. Verin ponders why Far Madding would want the Dragon Reborn’s
spies scouting out the city and reminds them that the Guardians didn’t stop
Guaire Amalasan’s conventional army overrunning the city eleven hundred years
ago. Barsalla doesn’t like being reminded of that, but chooses not to address
the problem.

The
next day Cadsuane and Alanna see Rand, alone. Cadsuane tells Rand that
Narishma, Flinn and Hopwil have been bonded by Merise, Corele and Daigian
respectively and that the Sea Folk and the other Aes Sedai want to talk to him.
He refuses and manages to swallow his pride enough to convince Cadsuane to
respect his wishes. Once left alone with Alanna, he tells her that he has
bonded someone else. Alanna is annoyed, but convinces him to start actually using
the Aes Sedai who have sworn fealty to him. He agrees and gives her orders
to give to Rafela, Merana, Bera and Kiruna. They are to go to Haddon Mirk and
put down the rebellion against his rule. Darlin Sisnera is Steward of Tear and
Tear remains under the Dragon Reborn’s rule, but anything else is negotiable.
Rand refuses to let Tear slip out of his control with the Seanchan threat
gathering pace in the west.

At
the Barsalla palace Verin talks with Cadsuane and learns that Cadsuane has no
particular interest in Rand other than that he must remain alive long enough to
face the Last Battle. Other than that, Cadsuane’s concern is that Rand is
turning himself into a stone, repressing emotion and passion so he can make
himself harder than the Shadow itself. Verin is relieved that Cadsuane is not a
threat to Rand after all and chooses not to poison her. Verin also forces
herself to keep up the pretence of being ‘Eadwina’, since she doubts the arrest
and exile warrants for her have lapsed, despite the length of time that has
passed since she was last in the city.

Elayne
and Egwene meet in Tel’aran’rhiod and are bemused by the changes to
Emond’s Field, which they visit. Egwene is astonished at how the town has
swelled in size with refugees from Tarabon and Arad Doman hazarding the
mountains, whilst Elayne is not amused at the Red Eagle of Manetheren flying
over the town. She ponders sending an Andoran contingent to remind the Emond’s Fielders
who they are really ruled by. Egwene has enough on her plate: in a few days’
time the rebel Aes Sedai Travel to Tar Valon to begin the siege of the Shining
Walls. Before she leaves Egwene tells Elayne she has heard rumours of Rand
chaining up Aes Sedai like damane, but Egwene will not tolerate that at
all. Back in the real world the news is disquieting: Naean Sarand and Elenia
Arawn, the two challengers for the throne who Dyelin had imprisoned, have
escaped; the Borderland army isn’t moving as yet; and rumour speaks of Aes
Sedai in Cairhien swearing fealty to the Dragon Reborn, which Elayne
surely rejects as nonsense. Elayne meets with a group of Illianer and Kandori
merchants and assures them that Andor will ally itself with the Dragon Reborn
but is not his conquest. Elayne is feeling weary, especially since she has
discovered she is pregnant with Rand’s baby, but Dyelin and Aviendha do not
give her any comfort, insisting that exercise is good for the pregnancy. Soon,
Merilille Ceandevin Travels back to Caemlyn from Braem Wood, where she has
finally located the Borderland army. Her estimates suggest at least 200,000
soldiers are encamped not too far from New Braem. Elayne decides to confront
them immediately and sends Merilille back to prepare them for her arrival.
Elayne arranges a bodyguard and takes Birgitte and Aviendha with her as well.
They meet with King Easar, King Paitar, Queen Ethenielle and Queen Tenobia, the
latter distinguishing herself with disgust at an Aiel’s presence at the
meeting. The Borderlanders demand to know Rand al’Thor’s location and prove
remarkably knowledgeable about events at the Battle of Falme, including the
fact that Elayne was there (The Great Hunt). Elayne tries to find out
more about their motives, but when Easar expresses annoyance that the Dragon
Reborn is concerning himself so much with the southern nations when the Last
Battle will be fought in the Blight, Aviendha points out that if the
Borderlanders are coming south to swear themselves to his banner than they will
fight where he directs. The Borderlanders do not respond. Elayne gives them a
vague answer the Rand is in the south, possibly Murandy, and that they have
permission to cross Andor to find him. The Borderlanders realise that by
entering Andor, they will alarm numerous nobles. Elayne will be able to use the
‘threat’ of the Borderlanders to unify Andor against them and will then ‘negotiate’
their departure, leaving Elayne untouchable as Queen of Andor. After
considering the matter they agree.

Returning
to Caemlyn, Elayne is intercepted by bad news: four small armies, totalling
between 20,000 and 30,000 men, are approaching Caemlyn from the east. Who they
are, who leads them and what is going on is unclear. Elayne immediately orders
her city to prepare for siege.

In
Ebou Dar Queen Tylin informs Mat that she is leaving the city. The High Lady
Suroth is to take her on a tour of how much territory in Altara House Mitsobar
now controls. Mat is relieved to see her go, so he can work on an escape plan
in peace and also not implicate her in the escape. They have ten days now to
get out of the city. Mat’s preliminary plan is to slip Teslyn, Joline and
Edesina out of the city disguised as damane. He sends Juilin to make the
necessary preparations (by stealing the extra damane dress, three sul’dam
dresses and, most difficult of all, an a’dam). Setalle Anan has sold the
Wandering Woman and volunteered to pretend to be one of the sul’dam they
will need to get out of the city. Unfortunately she cannot channel and an
attempt to put the a’dam on Joline leaves them both in agony. Mat
ponders how he is going to pull this off when he meets Bayle Domon and Egeanin.
He quickly learns that the Seekers are after them and they need to get out of
Ebou Dar as soon as possible. Mat agrees and asks if they can get three sul’dam
to flee with them. To his utter shock, Egeanin says yes. Thom and Juilin agree
that Domon and Egeanin are trustworthy and also, reluctantly, tell Mat about
the male a’dam they found in Tanchico (The Shadow Rising). Mat
realises that Rand himself doesn’t know about it and resolves to warn him at
the first opportunity, although Juilin points out that it is at the bottom of
the Aryth Ocean...or should be.

The
night of the escape comes. Setalle Anan, Joline’s two Warders and a group from
the inn pose as Egeanin’s entourage. As one of the Blood, she can commandeer sul’dam
for a mission and the gate guard won’t have the authority to question her.
Joline quickly poses as damane to Bethemin and the escape gets underway.
Seta and Renna, two of the other sul’dam who know they can channel, will
take Teslyn and Edesina. They enter the damane ‘kennels’ and set about
the task. Mat takes the opportunity to set free one of the Sea Folk Windfinders
captured in the battle for the city, Nestelle din Sakura South Star. She agrees
to liberate her sisters. Once free they will use the One Power to escape and
free their fellow Sea Folk crew, imprisoned on the other side of the river. Mat
gets her to agree to wait three hours and he continues with his own plans.
Returning to his apartment to pick up his things, he is shocked to find that
Tylin has returned. Apparently news came from Murandy that over 30,000 troops
have vanished into thin air without a trace and Suroth wanted to return here to
fully analyse the facts. Mat tells Tylin he is leaving and she wishes him well,
though insisting he ties her up first. Once free in the morning, she will send
every troop loyal to House Mitsobar after him, so he has to get away before
then. Once on the move Mat meets Tuon, who promptly guesses he is leaving and
attacks him. He overpowers her, thanks to the timely intervention of Noal
Charin, but Selucia, Tuon’s so’jhin and personal servant, appears. Mat
takes them both prisoner and Egeanin is horrified that he has laid hands on the
Daughter of the Nine Moons. Mat is shocked that he has at last met his future
wife, and determines to take them both with him out of the city. The group gets
moving, knowing that the city will be in an uproar when the morning comes.

At
the Golden Wheel Inn in Far Madding, Rand continues his search for the rebel
Asha’man. He hears strange rumours of discontent in Illian, civil war in Andor
and, most worrying of all, that the Stone of Tear is under siege, even though
that is surely a massive exaggeration of the problem with the malcontents
there. Rand gives up trying to find Peral Torval and leaves the inn, only to
run into Verin. Verin gives him some very unwelcome news: advance units from
the Seanchan in Altara have crossed the Illianer border and set up fortified
camps along the road and towards the mountains. If Rand wants to stop them
before they reach the capital, he will have to complete his plans here in Far
Madding as fast as possible. Rand decides that he is wasting time waiting for
Torval and Gedwyn to turn up and decides to leave tomorrow. He asks Verin to
pass on a message to Cadsuane apologising for his past actions and asking her
to be his advisor. However, once back at his own inn, Rand receives an
anonymous message telling him that Kisman is dead and that Torval and Gedwyn
are staying above a bootmaker’s near the Illian Gate. Rand, Lan and Nynaeve
leave to confront the Asha’man, whilst Min and Alivia have to stay behind.
Alivia refuses to let Min chase after Rand, but agrees to help her warn
Cadsuane about Rand’s actions.

Nynaeve
uses one of her ter’angreal, a Well which can store saidar for
use in a stedding, to lift Lan and Rand onto the roof of Torval and
Gedwyn’s residence. However, inside they find the two men already dead. They
are suddenly attacked by Padan Fain and Toram Riatin. Fain sent the note to
lure Rand into a trap and killed the Asha’man so he could have the pleasure of
killing Rand himself. Rand overcomes Fain in battle and he runs off. Lan kills
Toram in combat, but is injured himself. They try and escape from the building,
but both tumble from the rooftop and are apprehended by the Street Guards.
Nynaeve plans a solo rescue, but is forcibly stopped by Cadsuane. Cadsuane
gathers a group of Aes Sedai and Asha’man and confronts the Counsels once more.
Using both Nynaeve’s Well and one of her own, Cadsuane channels the One Power,
convincing the Counsels that there is a flaw in the Guardians that the Aes Sedai have exploited. Barsalla agrees to release Rand and Lan
to Cadsuane’s custody and they leave the city.

With the help of Nynaeve, Rand al'Thor cleanses the male half of the True Source.

Rand
takes the group to a hilltop overlooking the city and there digs out Callandor
from where he left it. He then opens a gateway to another hill, this one
overlooking the ruined city of Shadar Logoth. The group Travels through and
Rand begins his plan to cleanse the male half of the True Source. He and
Nynaeve link and begin drawing the One Power through the two statues. At the
same time Narishma takes control of Callandor and links with Merise and
Elza. Sarene and Corele link with Flinn and Nesune, Beldeine and Daigian with
Hopwil. Verin, Kumira and Shalon form the last circle. Cadsuane and Alivia both
stand guard by themselves.

In
the town of Tremonsien, just inside Cairhien’s northern border, the
half-excavated statue outside the town immediately starts blazing with
unnatural light, scaring the villagers. On the remote island of Tremalking a
similar statue similarly explodes with light, awing the Amayar working the
fields nearby.

The
massive eruption of saidar and saidin attracts the attention of
the Forsaken: Cyndane, Moghedien, Aran’gar, Osan’gar, Graendal and Demandred
respond by Travelling immediately to the area. Graendal runs afoul of Verin’s
group and is fought to a standstill, whilst Demandred is forced to retreat by
Flinn’s group. Hopwil’s group comes across Aran’gar and Hopwil is stunned when
he realises the ‘woman’ is holding saidin and immediately attacks. Osan’gar,
bored of having posed as Corlan Dashiva for the past few months, prepares to
attack Rand whilst his followers are distracted by the other Forsaken, but Elza
senses his presence and kills him with a torrent of fire from Callandor,
regretting that she has to kill one of the ‘Chosen’ but sure that the Dark One
would understand since her epiphany in Cairhien that the Dragon Reborn must reach
the Last Battle. Cyndane and Alivia battle one another to a standstill, Cyndane
shocked that the Seanchan woman is even stronger than she herself was ‘before’
the Aelfinn and Eelfinn held her.

The
battle ends and the Dragon Reborn completes his task, draining the taint on saidin
into a colossal sphere of energy that then collapses in upon itself,
obliterating the ruined hulk of Shadar Logoth at the same time. Rand and Nynaeve
both pass out from the exertion and the female access key ter’angreal is
destroyed, though the male remains intact. Alivia and Beldeine were both
wounded in the battle, but Flinn’s superior abilities with Healing have already
restored them. More unacceptable are the deaths of Hopwil and Kumira, with only
a rebel Asha’man (Dashiva, but of course really Osan’gar) slain in response.
Cadsuane gathers together the various angreal, ter’angreal and
sa’angreal scattered among the group and announces they are leaving as soon
as possible.

And
on the island of Tremalking the Amayar announce that the Time of Illusions has
ended.

3 comments:

Excellent summary again, Adam. One or two nitpicks - the phrase "Dashiva promptly expires" probably needs to be "Kisman promptly expires". I also spotted another name substitution as I read through, but I can't remember what it was. :)

Best of luck summarising Crossroads of Twilight mate... most boring of the lot IMNSHO